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Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The museum is housed in the bungalow of John Sullivan, the then collector of Coimbatore. Built in 1823 it happens to be the first stone house of Ooty. The museum came up in 1989 to conserve and promote the cultural legacy of the Nilgiri district. The museum houses several galleries consisting of the flora & fauna and the tribals of Nilgiri. There are galleries covering diverse topics like archaeology and numismatics.
Stone House was the first bungalow constructed in Ooty, India. It was built by John Sullivan and was called Kal Bangala by the tribals. Today, it is the official residence of the Principal of the Government Arts College, Ooty. The tree in front of the bungalow is known as the Sullivan's oak.
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Built in 1886 in honour of the Governor of Ooty. The cost of the construction was raised through public funding. Today the ornate fountain is an important landmark of the hill station.
Wax Museum
It is a private investment not supported by the government. Don't expect much like other foreign wax museums which are helped by tourism authorities for advertisements and promotions. But for sight seeing its good. More attractive is the very old house, where the museum is set up. Candles are available. But it is suffering from a lack of funds for expansion so they request tourists to visit and to get financial help from them, which is the only form of support.
The twin-towered massive cathedral dominates the skyline of Ooty. The Church dates back to 1897. Since, 1955 the church is serving a Cathedral for the Catholics of Ooty. In 1987 during repairs, a large section of the church roof collapsed. This led to major renovation. The new church was opened to the public on 7 July 1989. Today a long flight of stairs lead to the cathedral. The interiors are beautifully laid with large glass painted windows. There are several statues, including the 14 stations of the cross.
If you are on a sightseeing tour to Ooty, you might want to visit the Government Botanical gardens, which were laid out in 1847. The picturesque gardens that are maintained by the Horticulture department of the state, cover an area of about 22 ha. The gardens have well over 650 species of plants and trees, including a fossil of a tree, which is believed to be more than 20 million years old. The garden is very popular with nature lovers and those who long to walk among greenery and see rare ferns and shrubs up close. If you are in Ooty in the month of May, then you can also be a part of the summer festival, which is held here annually. The festival holds flower shows and various cultural programs showcasing the talent of the locals and the renowned artists.
It is an amazing and very large area garden. There are 27,000 rose plant of 400 varieties. It is the largest collection of roses in India. It is a beautifully landscaped garden spread across several terraces. A paved pathways meanders through the garden. Decorative fountains are also part of the garden. The garden offers a great view of the town of Ooty. A shop sells rose seeds. The roses blooms from late April to early June, so going there off-season is not very interesting.
Todas were the original inhabitants of Ooty region. They are one of the tribes of the Nilgiri region. The Toda temple consists of an inverted U-shaped structure made of Bamboo. The temple strands at the centre of a circular enclosure, located below ground level. A small, low gateway leads to the interiors of the temple. One has to crawl through the gateway to access the interiors of the temple. However, outsiders are not allowed inside the temple. The entrance is marked with several motifs representing the sun, moon, stars and buffaloes. Buffaloes are an integral part of Toda culture. A group of buffaloes can be seen roaming near the temple complex. The Toda dress consists of a shawl with bright red and black stripes. Several festivities are held at the Toda temple complex. Ask the locals for the festivity details.